Yeah, you read the title right. Islam and sex. No I don’t mean gender. This seems to be a topic that many imams and speakers don’t want to adress. However, if you go to any fatwa site you will see scores of questions about sex. What is lawful and unlawful? Does the wife have rights over the man? What’s meant by angels curse a woman who doesn’t come to her husband’s bed when he calls? Those are some of the biggest questions that I have personally read. Alhamdullilah, finally an imam has stepped up to the plate and decided to do an entire lecture series on the subject of Sex in Islam.

This course is now finished. However, you can review the videos/download the recordings from

importance of marriage
Sexual lust
sexual satisfaction for wives from an Islamic perspective
How to fulfill the husband sexual need during the menstrual cycle.
our prophet e the real husband
Islamic guide lines in intimate relations between husbands and wives
Real beauty in men and women according to Islam?
Real stories and light humor for all topics addressed
how can husbands and wives please each other
Permitted and forbidden sexual pleasures out side the wed lock.
Description of the best woman according to a Bedouin.
description of women according to age
How to choose your spouse according to Islam and a philosopher…And much more.

Sheikh Hasan Khalil is the Imam of Center Masjid in Arlington Texas
and also a regular speaker at sunnahfollowers.net

As Salaamu Alaikoum,
Please, all the Musims here copy this letter and fill it out and send it to the following Emails listed. The reason being is that Sheikh Hasan’s hometown has agreed to acknowledge the Muslims in the community by naming a street an Islamic name. The name chosen is Al-Salam street but the non-muslims are trying to reject this. Please all Muslims here copy this email and send it to the email addresses provided so that Arlington Texas can be recognized as a diverse city consisting of Muslims too.

There is a sample letter below and the emails who to send it to. Just copy and paste it and sign your name and send it to those emails…or write your own words. But very important the letters get there today.

The letter as follows:

————————————————————————————-

Asssalamu alaikum brothers and sisters,

To make it simple on you all, here is the sample letter and the ready to go emails.
Just cut and paste and send.
please show concern and act, wa jazakum Allahu khairun

Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members,
I would like to thank you for recognizing that Arlington is now an international city with much to celebrate ranging from American Airlines conducting global business to the new Cowboys stadium. As our state has transformed into a minority-majority demographic, that change can be accepted one of two ways:
1. Some might prefer to push back against evolution,
2. But the wise certainly accept change positively and facilitate the creation of a new paradigm where rising water lifts all boats.
Honoring the African American, the Hispanic, the Vietnamese and the growing Muslim communities with street name changes is a positive sign in that direction.
Though Muslims arrived in pre-revolutionary America with the Spanish explorers and as slaves; voluntary settlement in Texas began in 1854 with Hajji Ali and six others helping to survey and settle the newly acquired American Southwest from Mexico.
Today a monument honoring their contribution to our nation stands in Arizona; and Arlington, as the third largest city of the largest metropolitan region in Texas, continues the tradition of recognizing the positive contributions of local Muslim citizens.

During this just concluded presidential election, much was debated about how one majority ethnic group would not vote for an ethnic minority candidate, yet on Election Day, those old paradigms were shattered as we found out. Today your actions reinforce the fact that recognizing the rights of all minority groups is the glue binding the social cohesion between us all as Americans.

I just got home from voting for the 2008 Presidential Election. Normally, I don’t get into politics especially not on my blog. Let me just say………I am so glad this election is finally over. It has been two years of constant back and forth dominating all the news stations and even making it’s way to dinner table discussions. I will just be glad to get back to normal once this thing is wrapped up.

There is a debate among some Muslims as to whether we should even be involved in politics and I respect the opinions of those who vote and get involved and those who don’t. I think it’s a very personal decison and one that should be weighed rather than handled with haste. Personally, I made my decison to get involved after much contemplation. I feel that as a community in the United States if we all voted one way we could definatley sway the outcome. I believe that when we look at two candidates and see one who will be better for Muslims that we should act and vote for him or her. And yes, I would vote for a woman if I thought she would benefit the Muslims in this country and abroad. I think as Americans we should exercise our right to vote and give ourselves and our community a voice in politics. Otherwise, I believe that the misconceptions of Muslims and the ignorance will persist. Our situation will never change unless we get out and do our part to change it ourselves. Individually one vote may not be the difference in the outcome of an election but it is estimated that there are nearly two million registered Muslim voters in the USA. Subhan’Allah what a difference all those votes could make, especially taking into consideration that large Muslim communites exist in “battleground states” such as Ohio, Florida, Michigan and Virginia.

But again, It is a personal decision. That’s the beauty of a democracy and free country. You can get involved or not.

To be honest, I was NOT expecting what I saw when I went to the poll. I come from a very small town and am accustomed to standing in line on election day…..there is one polling place for the entire community where I grew up (an old fire department).

But since I moved to a slightly bigger town, I was honestly not prepared for the influx of people. It was back to back traffic this morning and people lined up all the way outside. There were parents with children, elderly in wheel chairs, and an assortment of various races and religions…. the excitement and anxiousness was palpable. I felt like I was part of something huge. And indeed, no matter which candidate wins this election will be one for the history books. Either the first African American will be elected president of the United States or we will have the first woman to serve as vice president of the United States.

By tomorrow we will have reached a milestone in our history as a relatively young nation. Alhamdullilah, I can say that I made sure that at least one Muslim American voice was heard and one Muslim American vote will be counted, Insh’Allah.

May Allah give us an outcome that will be the most benefitial to us and make us content with His Qadr (decree). ameen.

My question for other American Muslims is did you vote? Why or why not? And for the Muslims around the world……who would you like to see elected and why?

Today, the Discovery Network will launch “Planet Green”, a 24 hour channel focusing on promoting eco-friendly living featuring celebrities to sell the concept.

Scientists have repeatedly warned us in the past to slow down on carbon emissions, find alternative energy sources, and generally eat and live an eco-lifestyle. Though, no one paid attention until a few celebrities jumped on board. Then BAM! It’s everywhere.

I can’t wait to see what “Planet Green” has to offer. It is past time that we start living better.

Though, I can’t help but focus on our society. We are so obsessed with Hollywood that we need actors and actresses to promote something before we will pay attention. Does anyone think for themselves anymore? Or is everything dominated by what the celebrities are doing? In the fifties, people smoked because it was “in”. Now, we quit because it is “in.” We drove gas guzzling suvs because it was “In.” Now, we are told to give them up because hybrids are “in.”

As with everything “In”, celebrities are almost the only ones who can afford a green lifestyle. The cost of renovating homes, buying new cars, buying organic, etc etc can add up to a small fortune….or a very large fortune for working lower-middle class families.

Ah, and I can’t help but find the irony in driving up to an energy INEFFICIENT awards ceremony in a prius.

I guess we should just be grateful that the trends are changing for the better.

A comprehensive history of Islam in America. Yasir Qadhi explores the history of Islam and Muslims in the Americas from the beginning to the present day, discussing everything from the pre-Columbus era to theories about early Muslim exploration of the New World, to the Muslim Slave experience, the Nation of Islam, right through to the advent of both early and recent Muslim immigration. Coincidentally, from the same podium where Abraham Lincoln spoke a few hundred years ago, and Barack “Hussein” Obama, two days earlier. Along the way we learn the amusing story about Hajji Ali, also know as Hi Jolly, the Greek-Syrian convert from Constantinople who was hired to come to America and raise camels of all things.

Yasir Qadhi gave this speech at IlmFest 2008 in New York hosted by AlMaghrib Institute’s Qabeelat Tayyabah.

Notes from the lecture:

-Until we understand where we came from, we dont understand who we are and how Islam became so prominent in the Americas.

-Even during slavery Abu Bakr AsSiddique said that “The faith of our family is the faith of Islam” (1834)

-The money that financed Columbus came from the fallen Muslim caliphate of Grenada a few months prior to his setting sail in 1492.

-George Washington is quoted as saying that he would “even” have “Muhammadans” (ie: Muslims) come to Mt. Vernon if they are good workmen (citizens).

-The well documented slave, Ayyub ibn Sulayman wrote 3 entire Qur’ans from memory which are still present today. He went to England to see the king in the 1730s and when they wanted to paint him in his cultural garments, he said that he would describe them (for he did not have any).. to which the painter replied “how can I draw something I haven’t seen”… to which Ayyub ibn Sulayman said::

“How can you then draw pictures of God, Whom no one has seen?”

-One slave, Bilani Mohammad was owned by a just slave owner who allowed the slaves to practive Islam freely.

-Later, a book of Bilani Mohammad was found–this was a book of fiqh written from memory and changed for the situation of the slaves.

-Many of Mohammad’s descendants had memories of their great grandfather and other relatives practicing Islam. Among the many points, they said

“Aunty Hanna was mighty punctual about prayer”

-The Nation of Islam spread a pseudo-Islam in the African American community – but, sometimes bad things lead to good. i.e: Muhammad Ali (who made “Muhammad” a household name) and Malcolm X joined orthodox Islam after first going through the Nation.

-“Hadji Ali, a Greek born in Constantinople and later converted to Islam. His name was too complicated for people to pronounce, so if you wanna look him up you’ll have to search under the name “Hi Jolly”

He was buried in Quartzsite, Arizona, there’s a pyramid with a camel on top of his grave and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Quartzsite, Arizona. The question is, what else can be found in Quartzsite, Arizona?!

Suppose you found a watch in the middle of the desert. What would you conclude? Would you think someone had dropped the watch? Or would you suppose that the watch came by itself?

Of course, no sane person would say the watch just happened to emerge from the sand. All the intricate working parts could not simply develop from the metals that lay buried in the earth. The watch must have a manufacturer.

If a watch tells an accurate time, we expect the manufacturer must be intelligent. Blind chance cannot produce a working watch.

But what else tells accurate time? Consider the sunrise and the sunset. Their timings are so strictly regulated that scientists can publish in advance the sunrise and sunset times in your daily newspapers. But who regulated the timings of sunrise and sunset? If a watch cannot work without an intelligent maker, how can the sun appear to rise and set with such clockwork regularity? Could this occur by itself?

Consider also that we benefit from the sun only because it remains at a safe distance from the earth. A distance that averages 93 million miles. If it got much closer, the earth would burn up. And if it got too far away, the earth would turn into an icy planet making human life here impossible. Who decided in advance that this was the right distance? Could it just happen by chance?

Without the sun, plants would not grow. Then animals and humans would starve. Did the sun just decide to be there for us?

We need to experience sunrise. We need the sun’s energy and its light to see our way during the day. But we also need sunset. We need a break for the heat, we need the cool of the night and we need the lights to go out so we may sleep. Who regulated this process to provide what we need?

Moreover, if we had only the warmth of the sun and the protection of the atmosphere we would want something more beauty. Our clothes provide warmth and protection, yet we design them also to look beautiful. Knowing our need for beauty, the designer of the sunrise and the sunset also made the view of them to be simply breathtaking.

The Creator who gave us light, energy, protection and beauty deserves our thanks. Yet some people insist that He does not exist. What would they think if they found a watch in the desert? An accurate, working watch? A beautifully designed watch? Would they not conclude that there does exist a watchmaker, One who appreciates beauty? Such is God who made us.

Every year, on the evening of October 31st, millions of children across
North America paint their faces, dress up in costumes, and go door to
door collecting treats. The adults often decorate their houses with
ghostly figures, carve scary faces on pumpkins, and put candles in them
to create “Jack-O-Lanterns.” Unfortunately, among the millions of North
Americans indulging in this custom, many are also Muslims. This article
will shed some light on the significance and origins of Hallow’een, and
why Muslims should not participate in it.

Origins of the Hallow’een Festival

The ancient Celtic (Irish/Scottish/Welsh) festival called Samhain is
considered by most historians and scholars to be the predecessor of what
is now Hallow’een. Samhain was the New Year’s day of the pagan Celts. It
was also the Day of the Dead, a time when it was believed that the souls
of those who had died during the year were allowed access into the “land
of the dead”. Many traditional beliefs and customs associated with
Samhain continue to be practiced today on the 31st of October. Most
notable of these customs are the practice of leaving offerings of food
and drink (now candy) to masked and costumed revelers, and the lighting
of bonfires. Elements of this festival were incorporated into the
Christian festival of All Hallow’s Eve, or Hallow-Even, the night
preceding All Saint’s (Hallows’) Day. It is the glossing of the name
Hallow- Even that has given us the name of Hallow’een. Until recent
times in some parts of Europe, it was believed that on this night the
dead walked amongst them, and that witches and warlocks flew in their
midst. In preparation for this, bonfires were built to ward off these
malevolent spirits.

By the 19th century, witches’ pranks were replaced by children’s tricks.
The spirits of Samhain, once believed to be wild and powerful, were now
recognized as being evil. Devout Christians began rejecting this
festival. They had discovered that the so-called gods, goddesses, and
other spiritual beings of the pagan religions, were diabolical
deceptions. The spiritual forces that people experienced during this
festival were indeed real, but they were manifestations of the devil who
misled people toward the worship of false idols. Thus, they rejected the
customs associated with Hallow’een, including all representations of
ghosts, vampires, and human skeletons – symbols of the dead – and of the
devil and other malevolent and evil creatures. It must also be noted
that, to this day, many Satan-worshippers consider the evening of
October 31st to be their most sacred. And many devout Christians today
continue to distance themselves from this pagan festival.

The Islamic Perspective

Iman (faith) is the foundation of Islamic society, and tauheed (the
belief in the existence and Oneness of Allah) is the essence of this
faith and the very core of Islam. The safeguarding of this iman, and of
this pure tauheed, is the primary objective of all Islamic teachings and
legislation. In order to keep the Muslim society purified of all traces
of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and remnants of error, a
continuous war must be waged against all customs and practises which
originate from societies’ ignorance of divine guidance, and in the
errors of idol worship.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) issued a stern warning: “Whoever
imitates a nation is one of them!” (Abu Da’oud). Muslims should heed
this warning and refrain from copying or imitating the kufar in their
celebrations. Islam has strongly forbidden Muslims to follow the
religious or social customs of the non-Muslims, and especially of the
idol-worshippers or those who worship the devil. The Prophet (s.a.s.)
said: “By Him in Whose hands is my life, you are ordered to enjoin good
and forbid evil, or else Allah will certainly afflict you with torments.
Thereafter, even your du’a (supplications) will not be accepted.”
(Tirmidhi). From an Islamic standpoint, Hallow’een is one of the worst
celebrations because of its origins and history. It is HARAM
(forbidden), even if there may be some seemingly good or harmless
elements in those practises, as evidenced by a statement from the
Prophet (s.a.s.) “Every innovation (in our religion) is misguidance,
even if the people regard it as something good” (ad-Daarimee.). Although
it may be argued that the celebration of Hallow’een today has nothing to
do with devil-worship, it is still forbidden for Muslims to participate
in it. If Muslims begin to take part in such customs, it is a sure sign
of weak iman and that we have either forgotten, or outrightly rejected
the mission of our Prophet (s.a.s.) who came to cleanse us from
jahiliyyah customs, superstitions and false practises.

Muslims are enjoined to neither imitate the behaviour and customs of the
non-Muslims, nor to commit their indecencies. Behaviour-imitation will
affect the attitude of a Muslim and may create a feeling of sympathy
towards the indecent modes of life. Islam seeks to cleanse the Muslim of
all immoral conducts and habits, and thus paving the way for the Qur’an
and Sunnah to be the correct and pure source for original Islamic
thought and behaviour. A Muslim should be a model for others in faith
and practice, behaviour and moral character, and not a blind imitator
dependant on other nations and cultures.

Even if one decides to go along with the outward practises of Hallow’een
without acknowledging the deeper significance or historical background
of this custom, he or she is still guilty of indulging in this pagan
festival. Undoubtedly, even after hearing the Truth, some Muslims will
still participate in Hallow’een, send their kids “trick-or-treating,”
and they will try to justify it by saying they are doing it merely to
make their children happy. But what is the duty of Muslim parents? Is it
to follow the wishes of their children without question, or to mould
them within the correct Islamic framework as outlined in the Qur’an and
Sunnah? Is it not the responsibility of Muslim parents to impart correct
Islamic training and instruction to their children? How can this duty be
performed if, instead of instructing the children in Islam, parents
allow and encourage their children to be taught the way of the
unbelievers? Allah exposes these types of people in the Qur’an: “We have
sent them the Truth, but they indeed practise falsehood” (23:10). Muslim
parents must teach their children to refrain from practising falsehood,
and not to imitate the non-Muslims in their customs and festivals. If
the children are taught to be proud of their Islamic heritage, they
themselves will, insha Allah, abstain from Hallow’een and other
non-Muslim celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas,
Valentines Day, etc. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) said: The Final Hour
will not come until my followers copy the deeds of the previous nations
and follow them very closely, span by span, and cubit by cubit (inch by
inch). (Bukhari). Islam is a pure religion with no need to accomodate
any custom, practise or celebration that is not a part of it. Islam does
not distinguish between “secular and sacred;” the shari’ah must rule
every aspect of our lives.

“You must keep to my Sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly-guided
Caliphs; cling to it firmly. Beware of newly invented matters, for every
new matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misleading.”
(Bukhari)

“When the people see a person committing a wrong, but do not seize his
hand to restrain him or her from the deed, it is likely that Allah will
punish them both.” (Abu Da’oud, Nasa’i, Tirmidhi)

“Whoever imitates a nation is one of them.” (Abu Da’oud)

What to do on Halloween.

We have established, beyond doubt, that the celebration of Hallow’een is
absolutely forbidden in Islam. It is HARAM. The question arises as to
what to do on this night. Muslim parents must not send their kids out
“trick-or-treating” on Hallow’een night. Our children must be told why
we do not celebrate Hallow’een. Most children are very receptive when
taught with sincerity, and especially when shown in practice the joy of
their own Islamic celebrations and traditions. In this regard, teach
them about the two Islamic festivals of Eid. (Eid-ul-Fitr is fast
approaching, and this is the perfect time to start preparing them for
it.) It must also be mentioned that, even Muslims who stay home and give
out treats to those who come to their door are still participating in
this festival. In order to avoid this, leave the front lights off and do
not open the door. Educate your neighbours about our Islamic teachings.
Inform them in advance that Muslims do not participate in Hallow’een,
and explain the reasons why. (Give them a copy of this flyer if needed.)
They will respect your wishes, and you will gain respect in the process.
“A person who calls another to guidance will be rewarded, as will the
one who accepts the message.” (Tirmidhi)

Finally, we must remember that we are fully accountable to Allah for all
of our actions and deeds. If, after knowing the Truth, we do not cease
our un-Islamic practises, we risk the wrath of Allah as He himself
warned us in the Qur’an: “Then let them beware who refuse the
Messenger’s order lest some trial befall them, or a grevious punishment
be afflicted upon them!” (24:63). This is a serious matter and not to be
taken lightly. And Allah knows best. May Allah guide us, help us to stay
on the right path, and save us from all deviations and innovations that
will lead us into the fires of Hell.

Disclaimer

**Any information contained here from other sources does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the blog owner, any external links are to be used at your own discretion. I am in no way responsible for anything that occurs on external sites. The content found on external sites do not necessarily reflect the opinon of the blog owner. All rights are reserved to their proper owners.**